1.
Who are your most-well-loved authors of the mid to
late twentieth century (. . . 1930s-1980s)?
I can’t say I read heaps from this era as I am quite wary about content,
and it can be hard to find gems in the rubble sometimes. I really like Corrie Ten Boom books. Oh! My
favourite author of all time is Janette Oke.
If you have not read her books you really need to find some and get into
them. They are beautiful!
2.
Your favourite authors of the twenty-first century?
My family has recently discovered the
Barn Chronicles by Rosie Boom, which
is the story about Rosie’s family (her husband and their six children) and
about how they lived in a barn in New Zealand while they built their family
home. The books are really funny and “real
life”, if you know what I mean.
3.
Which genres do you tend to read the most and enjoy
from more modern fiction?
Biographies I think but I am also especially fond of any books set in
WWII. Most of Janette Oke books are set
in the pioneering days of America and are Christian romances. In a good way. ;) :P
4.
Are you more willing to invest yourself in a
fictional trilogy/or series or prefer the stand-alone novel better?
It depends on the series. :) If I don’t enjoy the first book, then I won’t
bother with the follow up books, but then if I enjoy the first one, I’ll keep
going. :)
5.
While it is generally agreed that nothing beats
classic fiction, there is much gold in the new too! What are the positive
qualities and styles of modern works that you appreciate?
That is a really hard question, Joy! Ummm… :)
It’s not that I don’t appreciate modern books but as a whole, modern
novels just don’t portray the same family values, fidelity, clean-ness that
older books tend to have.
6.
What is your greatest hope for modern fiction?
What do you mean by that? I’m
going to assume you mean, what do I hope to find when I open a modern fiction
book… :) I hope to read about people of courage,
who aren’t afraid to stand up for right and who defend the truth. Also love that lasts would be a nice bonus
feature thrown in now days. :)
7.
List 5 books by modern authors you have read which
you either hope or predict will become "classics" in years to come.
I really have no idea… :)
8.
In reading modern books, do you predominantly read
from the secular or Christian market?
Christian, because have I mentioned
that Janette Oke is my favourite author???
;) In saying that however the war
stories I rad would almost equal her books, I think.
9.
List three of your favourite novels written in this
century.
10. Of various as
yet-unpublished books that you know something about, what are 5 that you most
wish to read one day?
I don’t really keep up with what is
coming out, but there is a book by a certain Joy that I wouldn’t mind reading
one day… :)
* * * * * *
"The Ink Stains" Questions. . .
(the writing tag)
1.
For how long have you been seriously novel-writing?
What sparked you to move from simply writing in a "dabbling"
fashion for fun to pursuing your writing to a higher-level?
I confess I am still dabbling. I am
not a serious writer in the least and unless it is something casual like this
or a story I think up by myself, I don’t particularly enjoy it much.
2.
Do you wish, ultimately, to entertain your readers
and make them smile, or rather to inspire, challenge them and move them to
tears?
Just to get them hooked would be my fist goal – if they feel anything
after that, I’m happy. :P
3.
What are two of your favourite genres to write in?
Historical Fiction. I think I
have dabbled in about half a dozen eras, but I can’t say what would be my
favourite.
4.
Will you please tell us a little about your current
writing project (novel-in-progress, short story, novella, etc. . . )?
I can’t say I am actually actively working on anything at the moment,
but the last story I started was a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast in a WWII
setting. You can read the first two installments
here. Part One Part Two
5.
How long have you been working on it? What is the
backstory of how you started this novel?
I came up with the idea when I read about the competition of Five Enchanted Roses on Joy’s blog. The challenge was to tell a unique version of
Beauty and the Beast, while staying true to the original plot.
6.
Have you written other stories/books (or currently
writing others)? Do tell us a little about them please!
I have started many more
stories than I have completed. In fact,
I can’t think of many stories that I finished – at all. I am not particularly fond of my own writing
style, strange as it may sound. I tend
to write about my own passions, namely family, weddings and babies. If it is not written properly or harnessed
and dealt out in moderate amounts, such writing is rather unpalatable and super
sloppy. :P Janette Oke is about the only author I have
come across who has mastered this art.
7.
Out of all the characters you've ever written, who
is your favourite?
I was pretty happy with the old woman at the start of my Beauty and the
Beast story.
8.
When you complete this novel, do you plan on
preparing it for publication or rather leave it to "marinate" and
start a new work with the hopes of improving your writing first?
I don’t plan to ever publish something, and as a general rule, I don’t
edit. The way it comes out is the way it
is. :P
9.
Isaac Newton was known to have said, "If I
have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Who do
you see as having been the literary giants or "Greats" that have inspired
and influenced your writing thus far?
10. Can you picture any
of your novels being adapted into movies? In the stuff of your dreams, who
would you cast for your main characters?
I am always doing this, whether it is
my own writing or someone else’s! As I
said, though, my writing is generally not finished or developed enough to put
it even into dreams yet!
11. As you write, how
often do you find yourself learning any of the lessons or going through any of
the journeys/struggles of your characters?
I can’t say I learn new lessons, but I am encouraged sometimes by the
gentleness and meekness that I may try to put into a girl, or the courage and
manliness that I put into a lad (not that manliness applies much to me! LOL!)
12. As a Christian, how
does your faith affect your writing generally? Is your current novel overtly
Christian or more subtly under-girded with your faith and worldview?
Depends what I’m aiming for. It
my goal is a Christian novel, then I will highlight that more than what I would
in a general fiction writing. In such
books, I may not mention religion at all, but my writing reflects the standards
that I up hold as a Christian.
13. In one word each,
how would you describe each of the main characters of your novel?
Dame Kansvier : spooky
Rosalind: brave
Jacob: gentle
Ruth: sweet
14. Are there any
aspects of your novel that have taken you by surprise?
Not yet! :D
15. How do you think the main
characters of your novel would react if he or she were introduced to you?
“You look so innocent!” :P
Just kidding. ;) I seriously have no idea.
15. Do you plan,
Lord-willing, on pursuing the traditional mainstream route of finding an agent,
etc, and waiting it out, or do you consider indi publishing (self-publishing) a
healthy alternative?
No, I don’t ever plan to publish.
16. Out of the many
themes and messages, what would be the one closest to your heart that you
should like to share through your writing?
There is hope,
there is love, and we can find it if we look in the right place. It isn’t inaccessible – Jesus holds it all
out to us: all we have to do is reach out hand take it.
